NASCAR turned IndyCar Series driver Jimmie Johnson is getting a new taste of Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the next few weeks. The seven-time NASCAR champ has won four stock car races on the iconic 2.5-mile oval, but now, he’s preparing for his first Indianapolis 500 — and the abundant traditions that go along with it.
One of the most famous of the many Indy 500 traditions is the race winner’s celebratory milk bath — a ritual that dates back to the 19030s. After the race, the winner is handed a bottle of milk and usually takes a few sips before dumping it on themselves and, inadvertently, splashing everyone standing close enough.
But it’s not just any bottle of milk. The American Dairy Association Indiana is in charge of the milk, and it polls drivers in advance to learn their milk preferences. And while we’ll likely have to wait a little longer to know every driver’s milk choice, Johnson shared his Thursday.
